Photo licensed under Creative Commons attribution only. Photo by Loiclemeur. See more of his car photos on Flickr.

According to the official website, the Progressive Automotive X Prize is a $10 Million race designed “to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change.”

The race will consist of more than 60 different teams, representing 10 countries around the world.  The contestants will race cross-country this year and in 2010.  The goal of the race is to find a vehicle that appeals to consumers, meets strict emissions standards, and gets at least 100 miles per gallon.

“A race like this is an excellent way to inspire innovation without sacrificing performance,” says small business consultant Ron Sturgeon.  “Competition can really foster creativity.”

The competition is also open to modified existing vehicles, not just new designs.  Jonathan Goodwin, a Wichita, KS native who has a national reputation for green vehicle modifications, is planning to participate in the X Prize competition.  His team is called “Goodwin Young” and plans to race a modified car owned by music legend Neil Young.

“What I’m interested in is being able to push the technology,” Goodwin told The Wichita Eagle.

Goodwin has been working on a modified 1959 Lincoln Continental owned by Neil Young.  The vehicle is called the “Lincoln Volt” and is 19 and a half feet long and two and a half tons.

“We’re not talking about concept cars,” X Prize Foundation chairman and chief executive Peter Diamandis told The Wichita Eagle. “We’re talking about real cars that can be brought to market in the near term that consumers will want to buy.”

With the automotive market in a tailspin, finding a car consumers would like to buy could be tricky.  On the other hand, contests like this could make it possible to drive your dream car without worrying about the impact on the environment.

Another option for more earth-friendly exotic car driving is joining an exotic car sharing club.  Members have access to an entire garage of exotic cars, but they share the vehicles.  Exotic car enthusiasts can drive fuel-efficient vehicles during the week and drive exotic cars on the weekend.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer living in the Twin Cities. Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services.

“The economy of India is growing at a rate far faster than the mature economies of the West,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Dallas exotic car rental business. “Toyota is smart to bring a redesigned Corolla to India right now,” says the Texas business consultant and author.

Toyota Redesigns Corolla for India

Launching today, the Corolla Altis is a redesigned version of the popular Toyota Corolla Sedan. Toyota, which currently sells about 50,000 automobiles each year in India, is anticipating that the new Altis will help them get a larger share of the market.

By 2013, Toyota hopes to expand its Indian market share to ten percent of all cars sold. With a current market share of three percent, this is an aggressive goal, but if projected sales of the new Toyota Corolla Altis are any indication, this goal is achievable. The automaker anticipates that it will sell an average of 2,000 of the new Corolla’s each month.

“Toyota has a great reputation as a reliable and high quality carmaker,” says Sturgeon, who also owns an exotic car club in Dallas and a business that provides automotive dream tours in Texas. “Although slightly tarnished lately in the United States by less than top marks from Consumer Reports, Toyota’s reputation for quality will certainly help draw buyers in India and will certainly help Toyota India hit their sales figures in India.”

Toyota India Builds Second Plant In India

Toyota, which is currently building its second Indian automobile plant, plans to begin production of a new small car for the Indian market in 2010 or 2011. Images courtesy of Toyota India website.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer living in the Twin Cities. Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services

“I believe strongly in the free market’s ability to find solutions to the rising cost of fuel. I suspect the folks at Electric Vehicles of America have positioned themselves very well to tap into what is clearly a concern with the driving public,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Dallas exotic car rental company.

Bob Batson, who formed Electric Vehicles of America, told CNN that business has been good as consumers search for alternatives to gas engines.

“Sales trends are definitely up as the price of gasoline goes up,” he said.

Larry Horsley, who owns a metal roofing business in Georgia, told CNN that he gets a lot of use out his conversion kit. Horsley converted his Chevy truck to run on 20 six-volt batteries, similar to those used to power golf carts. His truck is capable of traveling 40 miles between charges and can go up to 60 miles per hour.

“Anyone who has basic mechanical skills can build one of these,” he said.

The conversion kit and the truck itself cost Horsley about $12,000 and took about three months to complete. He said that most of that time was spent waiting for parts.

Horsley told CNN that he estimates he has saved $700 on gas, oil, and filters in 4 months by driving his electric truck.

“The other interesting aspect of electric vehicles is their capacity to accelerate much faster than gasoline powered vehicles. At our Dallas sports car rental company, we are anticipating some electric sports cars that should provide our clients with thrilling driving experiences,” says business consultant Ron Sturgeon, who also owns an exotic car club and a business that provides automotive dream tours.

“Electric cars or electric gas hybrids are a great solution to lower commuting costs,” says Sturgeon, “but I’m also looking forward to seeing some electric cars that are fun to drive from the people at Tesla Motors and other car makers.”

(Images courtesy of Tesla Motors Media Library.)

Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer living in the Twin Cities. Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services